Sylvania



(1 10 Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1. F. B. WILDMAN.

. KNITTING MACHINE. 7 No. 604,100. Patented May .17, 1898.

Attorney.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets--Shee't 2. F. B. WILDMAN.

KNITTING MACHINE. No. 604,100. PatentedMay 17,1898.

Witnesses L I nLventor.

Attorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK B. WILDMAN, OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MOMIGHAEL & WILDMAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,100, dated May 17, 1898.

Application filed May 13,1897- Serial No. 636,332. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, FRANK B. WInDMAN, of Norristown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to knitting-machines; and it consists of the improvements which are set forth in the following specification and are shown in the accompanying drawings.

More particularly, my invention relates to devices for introducing into a knitted fabric an auxiliary or reinforcing thread in addition to the ordinary threads which compose the fabric for the purpose particularly of forming reinforced'portions, as at the knees and heels of stockings.

In carrying out my invention I employ an auxiliary-thread carrier, combined with means coacting therewith to clamp or release the thread,whereby the thread when released may pass freely to the needles and be knitted into the fabric and when clamped or held against free movement will be broken ofi. By these means the auxiliary thread may be introduced in each course for a greater or less extent.

My invention also embraces the combination of the auxiliary-thread carrier with devices for operating the means for clamping and releasing the thread and with pattern mechanism for automatically operating such devices.

My invention also embraces means for controlling the operating-cam of the knittingneedles to produce loose courses while the auxiliary or reinforcing thread is being introduced and relates to other improvements and combinations of parts which are more particularly set forth hereinafter and claimed.

I shall now refer to the accompanying drawings for the purpose of more particulary describing my invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevationof the upper portion of afknitting-machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the chain mechanism for operating the auxiliary-thread carrier. Figs. 4 and 5 are inverted plan views of the auxiliary-thread carrier. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the same on the line an 0c of Fig. 4. Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating the reinforced fabric as produced upon a machine embodying my invention.

The general construction of the knittingmachine is not material to my invention.

For purposes of illustration 1 have shown my improvements applied to a circular-ribknitting machine of well-known construction, in which the needle-cylinder and dial are stationary, while the cam-ring and cam-dial rotate.

A is the frame of the machine, and A is the base-plate thereof, upon which the head B is supported.

0 is the base-plate of the knitting-head, which is supported upon the plate A and is driven from the power-shaft A through the bevel-gears A A or in any suitable manner.

C is the vertical cam-ring carried by the plate 0 and carrying the yoke Oiwhich supports the dial-head C and from which the horizontal needle-dial is suspended. The

cam-ring C and the dial-head 0 contain the the usual cams by which the needles are projected.

So far as has been described the machine is of well-known construction.

D is the auxiliary-thread carrier, located adjacent to the point where the needles are projected to take the threads. As shown, the thread-carrier D consists of a disk located in a recess in a block D, carried by a plate D secured to the dial-head O and is carried upon a shaft D journaled in the block D. The disk D is provided with a transverse way cl for the auxiliary thread .9, and the block or frame D is open at the front and back to admit of the passage of the thread. The face of the block D is provided upon one side with a clamping-wall (1, adjacent to the periphery of the disk D, so that when the disk is turned, as shown in Fig. 5, the auxiliary thread 8 will be caught between the disk D and the wall 61 of the block D.

E is a pinion on the shaft D engaging a pinion F upon a stud f in the block D.

G is a link connected at one end with the pinion F and at the other end with an arm G on a post 9, journaled in the cam-ring O and carrying a two-armed frame H.

I is a lever pivoted, as at 71, to the cam-ring C and having its outer end connected with the distant arm of the frame II by a pin-andslot connection h.

J is a lever pivoted, as at 3', to the cam-ring C and having its outer end connected with the distant arm of the frame II by a pin-andslot connection h.

The levers I and J are so arranged and located that when one is projected the other will be retracted, and the connection of these levers with the two-armed frame II is such that the retraction of either lever will project the other, and the movement of either lever will rock the two-armed frame H and its post 9 and arm G and thus operate the link G and turn the pinion F.

extending through the base-plate A and carrying upon their upper ends disks M M. These disks M M are so located with reference to the levers I J that by raising or lowering them they may be made to strike either lever or may be lowered so as not to actuate them.

N isapattern-chain, which may be of usual construction, carried upon a chain-wheel O, actuated in any suitable manner. I have shown the chain-wheel carried upon a shaft actuated through a ratchet P and pawl Q, operated in the manner well-known in the operation of pattern mechanism in knittingmachines. The shaft K is provided with an arm R, acted upon by the pattern-chain N for rocking the shaft, and the arm B may be provided with the usual antifriction-roller r.

The usual guide for feeding the threads If to the needles may be employed. I prefer, however, to utilize the block D for this purpose, and in the drawings I have shown the same provided with a guideway d through which the threads 25 pass to the needles.

When the carrier D is in the position shown in Fig. 4., the auxiliary thread 3 will pass freely through the passage-way d to the needles, which will take the thread and knit it into the fabric, together with the threads 23, thus forming a reinforcement of the fabric. WVhen the carrier D is turned into the position shown in Fig. 5, the thread .9 will become caught between the carrier D and the wall 1 and will break, as shown in Fig. 5. WVhen the carrier D is turned back again into the position shown in Fig. 4, there will be a free loose end of the threads projecting, which will be taken up by the needles when they are projected and again knitted into the fabric.

The operation of the carrier is effected by the pattern mechanism described. Supposing the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the carrier D turned so that the auxiliary thread 8 passes freely to the needles, if the disk M is operated by the pattern mechanism so as to strike the lover I and throw it inward it will rock the frame H and post 9, and through the arm G link G, and pinions F and E will turn the carrier D, so that the thread 8 will be broken off and will cease to be introduced into the fabric. The carrier D will remain in this position until the disk M is actuated by the pattern mechanism and strikes the lever J, which was projected by the operation of the leverI and throws it inward, when the frame H will be rocked back and the carrier D will be turned into its former position, with the thread .9 free to be taken up by the needles and introduced into the fabric. Thus with each rotation of the knitting-head the thread 8 may be introduced for a greater or less portion of the circumference of the tube, forming a reinforced portion y, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. So long as the carrier D remains turned, as shown in Fig. 5, the thread 8 will not be introduced, and plain knitting will result. These reinforced portions, depending solely upon the operation of the carrier D, may be produced at any place in the fabric and for any extent, as may be determined by the pattern mechanism.

In the drawings I have shown, for example, a knitted-stocking tube with the reinforcements 3. located at the knee and heel portions. Fig. 8 shows the tube of Fig. 7 extended.

It is desirable that when the auxiliary or reinforcing thread 8 is being introduced the vertical needles should operate to make loose courses, and to accomplish this I make the cam 0, (dotted lines in Fig. 1,) which acts to depress the vertical needles, movable and provide it with devices controlled by the mechanism for operating the auxiliary-thread carrier for slightly depressing it at the time the auxiliary thread 5 is being introduced, so that the loops taken by the vertical needles will be pulled down to a slightly-greater extent. The mechanism which I have shown for this purpose .is as follows:

S is a rod connected with the cam 0 and projecting up through a guide 0 in the block D and bearing upon the under side of the pinion F. I have shown the rod S adj ustably connected with the cam 0 through a stud 0 carried by the cam and projecting through the top of cylinder 0, so that by adjusting the rod S the position of the cam may be regulated. The cam 0 will be held in an elevated position by the jacks of the-needles. It may, however, be provided with a spring for that purpose.

The under surface of the pinion F is so constructed that when it is turned to operate the carrier D to introduce the auxiliary thread 8 into the fabric it will slightly depress the rod S, thus depressing the cam 0 and the vertical needles. For this purpose I have shown the under surface of the pinion provided with a small recess f, into which the rounded end of the rod S extends when the pinion is turned in position to throw the auxiliary thread 8 out of action, and when the pinion F is turned and the recess f passes from over the end of the rod S the surface of the pinion will act to slightly depress the rod. If desired, the under surface of the pinion may be slightly inclined for the same purpose.

T is an adjustable stop carried by the top of the cylinder adapted to strike a projection T on the rod S or cam 0, and thus limit the upward movement of the cam.

When the carrier D is turned into the position shown in Fig. 4, the free end of the thread 8 projects to such extent that it is introduced well into the latches of the projected needles and is readily taken up by them and introduced into the fabric.

The various details of construction which have been shown may be varied in many ways without departing from the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure carrier having a thread passage-way, a clamping-piece adjacent to the thread-carrier, adapted, when the carrier is moved into a certain position, to clamp the thread and hold it against passage to the needles, operating-levers connected so that when one is projected the other is retracted, power-transmitting connections between the operating-levers and the thread-carrier whereby the operation of said levers will move the thread-carrier to clamp or release the thread, and devices controlled by pattern mechanism for operating the levers.

2. The combination with the knitting-head of a knitting-machine, of a frame D arranged adjacent to the needles thereof, a rotatable thread-carrier D journaled on the frame D, and provided with a thread passage-way extending through it, through which the thread may pass freely to the needles when said passage-way is presented to them, a clampingwall at on the frame D adjacent to the thread carrier adapted to hold and break the thread when the thread-carrier is turned to move its thread passage-way away from the'needles, a pinion E carried by the carrier D, a second pinion F adjacent to the pinion E and engaging the teeth thereof, and means controlled by pattern mechanism for operating'the pinion F embracing levers I, J, so connected that when one is retracted the other is projected,

pinion F, the operating-cam for the vertical needles, a rod S carried by the said cam and bearing against the pinion F and adapted to be depressed thereby when the pinion is turned to operate the thread carrier, whereby the vertical needles will be depressed while the auxiliary thread is being introduced into the fabric.

4C. In a knitting-machine, the combination with the knitting-head and its needles, and the usual thread-guide for guiding the bodythread to the needles, of the devices for introducing an auxiliary or reinforcing thread consisting of a block D located adjacent to the needles and provided with a recess, a movable perforated thread-carrier located in the recess of said block through the perforation 01 of which the auxiliary thread passes, and means controlled by pattern mechanism for operating said thread-carrier to clamp and release the auxiliary thread between said carrier and a wall of the recess in said block.

5. In a knittin -machine, the combination with the knitting-head and its needles, and the usual thread-guide for guiding the bodythread to the needles, of the devices for introducing an auxiliary or reinforcing thread consisting of a rotary perforated thread-carrier D, through the perforation d of which the auxiliary thread passes, a clamping frame or Wall located adjacent to said carrier and adapted to clamp the thread which passes through the perforation d between it and the carrier when said carrier is turned, and means controlled by pattern mechanism for turning said rotary carrier to clamp or release the auxiliary thread, which passes through the perforation thereof.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

FRANK B. WILDMAN. Witnesses:

J. W. KENWORTHY, ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER. 

